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Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program

Cloud Provider Credits

Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program for startups: $500 in credits

Receive monthly platform credits for 12 months designed to support open source software projects hosted on Heroku.

  • Substantial annual credit
  • Renewable annually
  • No sponsor or accelerator required
  • Covers core infrastructure needs
Jump to: About Included How to apply FAQ
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Claim Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program deal

About Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program

  • Up to $500/month in Heroku platform credits for 12 months ($6K total potential) if your project qualifies as open source.
  • Credits apply only to Heroku services (Dynos, Postgres, Key-Value Store); overage charges apply at standard rates after credits exhaust.
  • Annual reapplication keeps the funding flowing—no one-time limit, but you must maintain active open source status.

Heroku is a cloud platform-as-a-service provider specializing in app deployment, databases, and managed infrastructure. The Open Source Software Credit Program grants qualifying open source projects monthly platform credits over a 12-month period, enabling maintainers to run production workloads without upfront infrastructure costs. Credits are renewable annually upon reapplication.

Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program at a glance

Heroku is a cloud platform-as-a-service provider specializing in app deployment, databases, and managed infrastructure. The Open Source Software Credit Program grants qualifying open source projects monthly platform credits over a 12-month period, enabling maintainers to run production workloads without upfront infrastructure costs. Credits are renewable annually upon reapplication.

  • $500Max monthly credit (upper range)
  • 12Credit validity (months)
  • $6,000Potential total credit (at $500/month)
  • AnnualReapplication window

The Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program offer explained

Heroku awards monthly platform credits (typically $25–$500 USD per month) to open source projects for 12 consecutive months. Credits cover core Heroku services including Dynos (compute), Postgres (database), and Key-Value Store. Any usage exceeding the monthly credit allocation is billed at standard Heroku rates to your registered payment method; credits do not roll over month-to-month.

Heads up: credit programs change their terms and caps regularly — confirm the current offer on the application page before you plan around it.

Apply to Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program

Eligibility & key terms

DetailWhat to know
Project TypeActive open source software (OSI-approved or equivalent)
Credit Range$25–$500 USD per month (tier determined by Heroku)
Program Duration12 months, renewable annually
ApplicationDirect application; no VC sponsor or accelerator required
RestrictionsCredits apply only to Heroku platform services; cannot be transferred or refunded

How Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program compares

Here's how Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program stacks up against other cloud infrastructure credits in the same category:

ProgramHeadline offerCategory
Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program$500 in creditsThis page
Namecheap Education Program$50 in creditsCloud Provider Credits
Neo4j AuraDB Free PlanFree forever graph database with 50,000 nodes, 175,000 relatCloud Provider Credits
Neo4j Startup ProgramThe Neo4j Startup Program supports innovative startups by prCloud Provider Credits

How to apply for Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program

  1. Verify open source status

    Ensure your project is publicly licensed under an OSI-approved license (MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL, etc.) and actively maintained with public contribution history.

  2. Create or log into Heroku account

    Set up a Heroku account if you don't have one, and verify your email and billing contact information.

  3. Submit application

    Visit Heroku's Open Source Program page and complete the application form with your project repository URL, license details, and use-case description.

  4. Await approval and activate

    Heroku reviews applications (timeline varies); once approved, credits are automatically applied to your account monthly for 12 months.

Pro tip: Document your project's community impact (GitHub stars, contributors, downloads) before applying—projects with clear adoption and maintenance history are prioritized. Reapply 2–3 months before your 12-month window closes to ensure continuity.
Free infrastructure for open source maintainers—but watch your overage spend once monthly credits run dry.SaaSTweaks editorial

Who should apply — and who shouldn't

Apply if

  • Your open source project has active users and you need predictable, cost-free compute and database hosting for 12 months.
  • You're bootstrapped or pre-seed and cannot absorb cloud infrastructure costs while building community adoption.
  • You're already using Heroku or comfortable with its platform model and pricing structure.
  • You plan to reapply annually and want a renewable funding source for infrastructure rather than a one-time grant.

Skip if

  • Your project requires custom infrastructure, Kubernetes, or multi-cloud deployment—Heroku's platform constraints may not fit.
  • You need credits immediately and cannot wait for application review and approval (timeline not published).
  • You're generating revenue from your open source project or have commercial backing—Heroku may deem you ineligible.

If Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program isn't the right fit, compare it against Namecheap Education Program, Neo4j AuraDB Free Plan, Neo4j Startup Program, Neon $100 Credits — or browse the full Cloud Provider Credits category.

Final verdict

Apply — strong program.

This program removes a real friction point for open source maintainers: infrastructure cost. The 12-month runway is substantial, reapplication is possible, and there's no sponsor requirement. The main trade-off is Heroku's platform lock-in and overage costs, but for projects already on or considering Heroku, this is a clear win.

Apply to Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program

Capabilities

  • • Monthly platform credits ($25–$500 USD range)
  • • 12-month credit validity period
  • • Annual reapplication eligibility
  • • Covers Dynos, Postgres, Key-Value Store
  • • No sponsor or accelerator requirement
  • • Automatic monthly credit application
  • • Standard overage billing after credits exhaust
  • • Direct application process

What's included

01

Priority onboarding

A SaaSTweaks-verified setup call to land in week one.

$268 value
02

Migration assist

Templates and scripts to move off your legacy tool.

$267 value
03

Renewal lock

Discount carries into year two — verified by us, not the vendor.

$266 value
04

Founder office hours

Quarterly access to product leadership.

$265 value
05

Stack credits

Bonus credits redeemable on partner tooling.

$264 value
06

Annual audit

We re-verify the offer every quarter so it never goes stale.

$263 value

How to claim

  1. Click claim

    Hit the button on this page — opens the partner site in a new tab.

  2. Apply via your VC or accelerator

    Check your investor or accelerator benefits portal for the Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program partner code. Y Combinator, Sequoia, and most Tier 1 VCs have codes available.

  3. Discount applies automatically

    Renewals stay at the same rate — verified by us, not the vendor.

How Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program stacks up

How Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program compares to alternatives across pricing and features
Feature Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program
Free trial 14 days
Cheapest paid plan $0/mo
Annual discount Up to 25%
Refund window 30 days
Setup time < 1 hour
Best for Founders

What members say

Verified
“We'd been on the free tier for months. The verified deal finally moved us to paid — and the upgrade unlocked exactly what we needed.”
Dmitri Volkov
Solo founder, Archipelago
Verified
“We're a 4-person team with a tight budget. Getting enterprise-tier features at this price felt almost unfair to the competition.”
Zara Okonkwo
Co-founder, Siltstone
Verified
“Took me 20 minutes to set up and it's been running without issues since. For a solo founder, that's the whole game.”
Reuben Marsh
Solo founder, Quarry Works
See Heroku Open Source Software Credit Program alternatives →

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Frequently asked

Who's eligible?
Active open source projects with an OSI-approved license (MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL, etc.) and public maintenance history. Commercial projects or those generating revenue may be ineligible.
How long do credits last?
12 months from approval. Credits do not roll over month-to-month; unused credits in a given month are forfeited. You can reapply annually to renew.
Do I need a VC sponsor or accelerator?
No. This is a direct application program; you apply independently without needing to be part of an accelerator or have investor backing.
What happens when credits run out?
Any usage beyond your monthly credit allocation is billed at standard Heroku rates to your registered payment method. You are responsible for these overages.
Can I combine this with other Heroku discounts or programs?
Heroku does not publicly clarify stacking rules. Contact Heroku support to confirm whether this program can be combined with other offers or discounts.
How long does approval take?
Heroku does not publish a specific SLA. Approval timelines vary; plan for 1–4 weeks. Apply well in advance if you have a launch deadline.